The term "function algebra" usually refers to a uniformly closed algebra of complex valued continuous functions on a compact Hausdorff space. Such Banach alge bras, which are also called "uniform algebras", have been much studied during the past 15 or 20 years. Since the most important examples of uniform algebras consist of, or are built up from, analytic functions, it is not surprising that most of the work has been dominated by questions of analyticity in one form or another. In fact, the study of these special algebras and their generalizations accounts for the bulk of the re search on function algebras. We are concerned here, however, with another facet of the subject based on the observation that very general algebras of continuous func tions tend to exhibit certain properties that are strongly reminiscent of analyticity. Although there exist a variety of well-known properties of this kind that could be mentioned, in many ways the most striking is a local maximum modulus principle proved in 1960 by Hugo Rossi [RIl]. This result, one of the deepest and most elegant in the theory of function algebras, is an essential tool in the theory as we have developed it here. It holds for an arbitrary Banaeh algebra of £unctions defined on the spectrum (maximal ideal space) of the algebra. These are the algebras, along with appropriate generalizations to algebras defined on noncompact spaces, that we call "natural func tion algebras".

These Proceedings contain articles based on the invited addresses, submitted abstracts, and informal discussions at the International Symposium on Function Algebras held at Tulane University during April 19-24, 1965, under the joint sponsorship of the National Science Foundation (Contract No. GP-3438) and the Office of Naval Research (Contract No. NRO43-326). Research problems which appear in the Appendix were formulated and discussed on the final day of the Symposium. The term Function Algebras appearing in the title is used in its general, not its technical sense. Perhaps the more generic usage, Algebras of Functions, is advisable, but it seems pedantic to insist upon this fine semantic distinction. Thus the reader is cautioned. Within a given article, Function Algebra frequently means sup norm algebra or uniform algebra: a uniformly closed separating subalgebra of the continuous complex valued functions with 1 on a compact Hausdorff space. In titles the term is frequently used to indicate any algebra which consists of functions.

The first part of this monograph is an elementary introduction to the theory of Fréchet algebras. Important examples of Fréchet algebras, which are among those considered, are the algebra of all holomorphic functions on a (hemicompact) reduced complex space, and the algebra of all continuous functions on a suitable topological space.The problem of finding analytic structure in the spectrum of a Fréchet algebra is the subject of the second part of the book. In particular, the author pays attention to function algebraic characterizations of certain Stein algebras (= algebras of holomorphic functions on Stein spaces) within the class of Fréchet algebras.

(Cartan sub Lie algebra, roots, Weyl group, Dynkin diagram, . . . ) and the classification, as found by Killing and Cartan (the list of all semisimple Lie algebras consists of (1) the special- linear ones, i. e. all matrices (of any fixed dimension) with trace 0, (2) the orthogonal ones, i. e. all skewsymmetric ma trices (of any fixed dimension), (3) the symplectic ones, i. e. all matrices M (of any fixed even dimension) that satisfy M J = - J MT with a certain non-degenerate skewsymmetric matrix J, and (4) five special Lie algebras G2, F , E , E , E , of dimensions 14,52,78,133,248, the "exceptional Lie 4 6 7 s algebras" , that just somehow appear in the process). There is also a discus sion of the compact form and other real forms of a (complex) semisimple Lie algebra, and a section on automorphisms. The third chapter brings the theory of the finite dimensional representations of a semisimple Lie alge bra, with the highest or extreme weight as central notion. The proof for the existence of representations is an ad hoc version of the present standard proof, but avoids explicit use of the Poincare-Birkhoff-Witt theorem. Complete reducibility is proved, as usual, with J. H. C. Whitehead's proof (the first proof, by H. Weyl, was analytical-topological and used the exis tence of a compact form of the group in question). Then come H.

Intended for a first course on the subject, this text begins from scratch and develops the standard topics of Linear Algebra. Its progresses simply towards its ultimate goal, the Theorem of Hurwitz, which argues that the only normed algebras over the real numbers are the real numbers, the complex numbers, the quaternions, and the octonions. The book stresses the complete logical development of the subject.

The famous problems of squaring the circle, doubling the cube and trisecting an angle captured the imagination of both professional and amateur mathematicians for over two thousand years. Despite the enormous effort and ingenious attempts by these men and women, the problems would not yield to purely geometrical methods. It was only the development. of abstract algebra in the nineteenth century which enabled mathematicians to arrive at the surprising conclusion that these constructions are not possible. In this book we develop enough abstract algebra to prove that these constructions are impossible. Our approach introduces all the relevant concepts about fields in a way which is more concrete than usual and which avoids the use of quotient structures (and even of the Euclidean algorithm for finding the greatest common divisor of two polynomials). Having the geometrical questions as a specific goal provides motivation for the introduction of the algebraic concepts and we have found that students respond very favourably. We have used this text to teach second-year students at La Trobe University over a period of many years, each time refining the material in the light of student performance.